The Secrets of Scholarship Application

With tuition fees on the rise, it is no secret that more and more students are looking for scholarships to reduce the sweat of paying the ever-rising cost on getting a degree. 

In this blog, we will cover the hows and whats of scholarship application, as well as what ESSEC Business School  recommends students to do in order to cover their tuition costs.

"...it is no secret that more and more students are looking for scholarships to reduce the sweat of paying the ever-rising cost on getting a degree."

First of all, what are scholarships?

There are a number of options open to ESSEC Business School students looking to help to pay their tuition fees. The government wants to ensure that university is open to students from all financial backgrounds – to ESSEC, brains matter the most, not money.

So, this translates into the fact that you as a prospective student are eligible for a scholarship or bursary depending on your circumstances. Yay!

The 101 on how to find scholarships:

As lots of potential students are looking for funding at the start of the academic year, it’s super-duper important to evaluate all of the options available to you. ESSEC Business School lists a number of different departments and schemes about financial aid and scholarship assistance that you can find here.

"...it’s super-duper important to evaluate all of the options available to you."

If you are planning on going to ESSEC Business School (you totally should), the website www.essec.edu is a great place to start. There, you will find lots of specific information concerning your program.

Apply Early:

As we host many prospective students coming to ESSEC, it is paramount that you apply to your scholarship early on. The application process can take a long time so we strongly advise you to apply as early as possible! Remember, the early bird always catches the worm.

If you want to have your scholarship money or funding before or right at the beginning of the academic year, apply as soon as you know the shortlisted results of admission.

"The application process can take a long time so we strongly advise you to apply as early as possible! Remember, the early bird always catches the worm."

Since there is also increasing competition of these scholarships amongst students, applying early is the best strategy and will give you the best possible chance of being approved.

Prepare all of your Financial Info:

Many scholarships and funds depend solely on your financial information and household income. It’s more than likely that you will need to provide data about your personal money issues, so get ready!

As the stats usually relate to all of the members in your household (mums, dads, sisters, brothers, uncles, your awesome aunt that always cooks you soup), you will need to ask your legal guardians for some financial information to complete your app.

"It’s more than likely that you will need to provide data about your personal money issues, so get ready!"

This is another reason why it is sensible to try and do this process as far in advance as possible to avoid having to scramble to get key financial info at the last minute. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Tailor you Application to Suit you:

Each scholarship is unique and will have unique requirements. So, treat your application like an haute couture dress – it’s incredibly important to read through each application to form and tailor your answers to each.

If you are a superhero and applying to multiple scholarships at the same time, this might take a fair amount of time as you might be asked to write a personal essay for each app.

"...treat your application like an haute couture dress – it’s incredibly important to read through each application to form and tailor your answers to each."

However, take time to read and fill out everything!!! Taking the time to read the forms and answer all of the questions to the fullest possible extent will give you the best possible chance of getting funding for your degree.

Speak to former Scholarship Heroes:

Candidates who have received scholarships or funding are your buddies. It is always, always helpful to get advice from people who have successfully landed a funding heaven.

Search online to find ESSEC alumni who you can stalk and message on Facebook, asking them about how they approached their scholarships in a friendly neighbourhood way. ESSEC students are nice, we don’t bite! It’s always good to ask before doing.

"It is always, always helpful to get advice from people who have successfully landed a funding heaven."

The Take Away:

Be aware. Be savvy. Be an early bird. Be prepared. Be tailored. Be friendly.

Go get ‘em tiger.